29 Jul 2025 6 min read Vocabulary for Emotions and Feelings

English Vocabulary to Talk about Emotions and Feelings – Part 1

Introduction – Vocabulary to Talk About Feeling and Emotion

In our daily life, we go through many emotions—sometimes all in a single day. The following story and exercises will help you learn vocabulary to talk about feeling and emotion in simple, clear English.

😊 A Day of Mixed Feelings

Morning Moments

When Riya spilled juice on her teacher’s book, she felt ashamed (feeling bad for something wrong) and kept her head down. Later, when the teacher forgave her, that ashamed feeling slowly faded.
Her friend shared chocolates, and Riya was delighted (very happy) to get one. Walking home with the sweet taste still in her mouth, she felt delighted again.

Afternoon Happenings

At lunch, her little brother was grumpy (easily annoyed) because the food was cold. Even after getting his favorite snack, he stayed grumpy and quiet.
Riya felt guilty (thinking you did something wrong) for teasing him earlier. That guilty thought made her give him her last biscuit.

Evening Surprises

When her mother came home early, Riya was surprised (feeling something unexpected). She was even more surprised when her mother brought a small gift.
Later in the evening, Riya grew worried (thinking something bad might happen) when her pet cat went missing. She stayed worried until the cat ran back inside.

Nighttime Feelings

Her father came home cheerful (happy and friendly), telling jokes at dinner. His cheerful mood made everyone laugh. Before bed, Grandma was affectionate (showing love and care) and hugged Riya tightly. That warm affectionate hug made Riya smile as she closed her eyes.
The next morning, Riya had mood swings (feelings changing quickly), laughing while getting ready then crying over a missing sock. Later at school, more mood swings showed up when she felt angry, then calm, within minutes.

Vocabulary to Talk About Feeling and Emotion

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example Sentence
Grumpy	adjective	Easily annoyed or in a bad mood	I feel grumpy when I do not get enough sleep.
Delighted	adjective	Very happy and pleased	She was delighted when she won the game.
Ashamed	adjective	Feeling bad or guilty about something wrong you did	He felt ashamed after telling a lie.
Guilty	adjective	Feeling bad for doing something wrong or hurting someone	I feel guilty because I forgot to help my friend.
Surprised	adjective	Feeling something unexpected has happened	We were surprised when it started raining suddenly.
Worried	adjective	Feeling nervous or thinking something bad might happen	I am not worried about my exams.
Cheerful	adjective	Feeling or showing happiness and energy	She is cheerful because she is going on a trip.
Affectionate	adjective	Showing love, care, or warmth toward others	My grandmother is affectionate when she hugs me.
Mood swings	noun	Sudden changes in how you feel	I have mood swings when I am tired.

😊 True or False – Exercise

Feeling ashamed means you feel proud of something bad you did.
When you are delighted, you feel very happy about something.
A grumpy person is always smiling and calm.
When you feel guilty, you think you did something wrong.
If you are surprised, something happened that you did not expect.
You feel worried when you think something bad might happen.
A cheerful person is often happy and friendly.
An affectionate person shows love and care to others.
Having mood swings means your feelings change quickly.

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Short‑Answer Questions (Present Tense)

Q: Why are you grumpy right now?
A: I am grumpy because I am tired, and being grumpy makes me stay quiet.

Q: What makes you delighted today?
A: A kind message makes me delighted, and hearing kind words keeps me delighted.

Q: Why do you feel ashamed at this moment?
A: I feel ashamed because I shouted, and I feel ashamed because I did not say sorry.

Q: Why do you feel guilty today?
A: I feel guilty because I forgot my homework, and I feel guilty because I did not help.

Q: What surprised you this morning?
A: A gift surprised me, and a sweet note surprised me again.

Q: What are you worried about now?
A: I am worried about my test, and I am worried about my health.

Q: Why are you cheerful right now?
A: I am cheerful because I finished my work early, and I am cheerful because I met my friends.

Q: Who is affectionate toward you now?
A: My brother is affectionate when he jokes, and he is affectionate when he shares his snacks.

Q: How do mood swings affect you today?
A: Mood swings make me sad and then happy, and mood swings make me feel restless.

Short‑Answer Questions (Past Tense)

Q: Why were you grumpy yesterday?
A: I was grumpy because I missed the bus, and grumpy because I was hungry.

Q: What delighted you last week?
A: A surprise visit delighted me, and a kind letter delighted me too.

Q: When did you feel ashamed before?
A: I felt ashamed for lying, and ashamed for shouting at a friend.

Q: Why did you feel guilty yesterday?
A: I felt guilty for breaking a toy, and guilty for hiding it.

Q: What surprised you last month?
A: A sudden party surprised me, and a gift surprised me as well.

Q: When were you worried last night?
A: I was worried about the exam, and worried about my project.

Q: Why were you cheerful last evening?
A: I was cheerful because I won a game, and cheerful because I met my cousin.

Q: Who was affectionate toward you last night?
A: My dad was affectionate when he spoke, and affectionate when he hugged me tightly.

Q: When did you notice mood swings earlier?
A: I noticed mood swings last week, and mood swings again the day before yesterday.

Fill in the Blanks

Use these words: grumpy, delighted, ashamed, guilty, surprised, worried, cheerful, affectionate, mood swings

I felt __________ because I shouted at my friend.
She was __________ when she got a lovely gift.
My little sister was __________ this morning and did not talk to anyone.
He felt __________ after forgetting to help his teacher.
I was __________ when I saw a rainbow in the sky.
Rina is __________ because her exam is tomorrow.
Mohan is __________ today because he finished his project.
My dog is very __________ and always licks my hand.
These days I have __________; sometimes I feel happy, sometimes I feel sad.

Practice Questions

When do you feel grumpy in your day?
What can make you feel delighted quickly?
Can you remember a time you felt ashamed? What happened?
Have you ever felt guilty for not helping someone?
What has surprised you in the past week?
What are you worried about this month?
What makes you feel cheerful in the morning?
Who is affectionate toward you in your family?
How do mood swings change the way you act?

Frequently Asked Questions - Talking About Feelings and Emotions

1. Are these words beginner or intermediate level?

These words are intermediate level. They are not the very basic ones like happy or sad, but they are still simple enough for learners to understand and use with practice.

2. Why should I learn intermediate vocabulary to talk about feeling and emotion?

Intermediate emotion words help you express your feelings more clearly and naturally. They make your English sound richer and closer to how fluent speakers talk.

3. How can I practice this vocabulary to talk about feeling and emotion?

Read short stories, speak about your own day using these words, and write simple sentences. Repeating them in real situations will help you remember them easily.

4. Can beginners also try these intermediate emotion words?

Yes! Even beginners can start using them. The meanings are easy, and with examples like those in this blog, you can slowly bring them into your daily conversations.

Final Thoughts

Learning vocabulary to talk about feeling and emotion helps you express yourself clearly in English. Keep practicing these words in your conversations and stories. 😊

Meet the Author – Yogesh

✅ A Qualified Chartered Accountant helping professionals and jobseekers speak English confidently for over 15 years.
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